The Welcoming Pineapple

Lynn Means

The pineapple is recognized as a traditional expression of “welcome” throughout the South and in areas along the Eastern Seaboard. Appearing on all sorts of décor – from door knockers to quilts – the fruit symbolizes those intangible assets we appreciate in a home: warmth, welcome, friendship and hospitality.

Pineapples can be easily added to plant stands and incorporated into entryway décor as a symbol of welcome.

Photo Credit: Lynn Means

Once a rare, expensive delicacy, the pineapple is now used as a unique, affordable – and tasty – way to bring warmth and hospitality into the home.

Photo Credit: Lynn Means

I discovered this when we moved down South from the North. Hanging by the front door of our first Southern home was a hand-painted plaque of a pineapple with the word “Welcome” below it. Being regional transplants, we thought it was a souvenir from Hawaii. But when our new neighbor revealed its real significance, we were so touched – we felt like we had truly come home at last!

While I found the concept of the pineapple being a symbol of welcome to be beautifully quaint, I couldn’t help but wonder why on earth a pineapple would have that kind of meaning – and in the South of all places? But as odd as it may seem, this tropical native has surely found a home in the land of cotton, the land of discount and most definitely the land where people truly enjoy the art of gracious living.

But how did the exotic fruit find its way here? It boils down to a matter of trade. You see, when the pineapple was introduced to Europe in 1493, it was an instant success! As a food item and horticultural curiosity, the fruit’s sweet taste and unique appearance made it one of the many wonders Christopher Columbus brought back from the New World. However, bringing it back is exactly what Europeans had to do for the next 200 years.

Europeans tried diligently to grow the fruit outside its native tropical climate, but propagation could only be achieved using greenhouse methods. In the meantime, the absence of a local supply and the increasing demand made the pineapple even more popular. Only affluent hosts could afford to offer it to their guests, so the fruit became a symbol of generosity, hospitality and, of course, wealth.

As a rare, expensive delicacy coveted by the rich and the royal, the image of the pineapple found its way into 18th century European and American architecture – especially the seaports that prospered on the West Indian trade route. Artisans sculpted and carved pineapples in stone and wood into places of prominence on the exterior facades and interior surfaces of mansions, government buildings and churches.

Today you can find fine examples of this detail throughout many historic homes and estates in the South. Be sure to particularly look around main entrances and walkways, where guests would be most likely to pass or linger. Two favorite pineapple locations were the pediment or transom over the front door, and finials on or around the front gate. And if you look carefully around the inside of these old homes, it’s not uncommon to find the pineapple cleverly carved in areas around the main foyer, staircase and fireplace mantles – again, places where visitors would tend to gather.

Colonial America fell in love with the pineapple, and over time its symbolic message of hospitality remained with us. Today the motif is still celebrated as a design element – in architecture, as well as through embellishments on furniture, china, ornaments and linens. But you don’t need to spend a fortune in bringing this symbol of warmth into your home: Even a simple, fresh pineapple centerpiece or a pineapple-shaped topiary makes a unique, inviting and natural way to welcome your guests – no matter where you live.

Facts

A member of the bromeliad family (Bromeliaceae), the pineapple (Ananas comosus) is grown mainly for its fruit and juice. Pineapple is currently rated the third most important commercial, tropical fruit crop in the world. It’s the only source of bromelain, an enzyme used in the pharmaceutical industry and as a meat-tenderizing agent.

You don’t have to live in a tropical paradise to produce your own pineapple. Growing your own plant takes some patience and care, but getting started is as easy as picking a good pineapple at the grocery store and rooting the top that you cut off.Read More...

Resources

Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia uses the pineapple as an inspiration for its ornate “Christmas in Williamsburg” decorations of wreaths, topiaries and natural door decorations.Read More...

Next Steps

Grow Your Own Pineapple
Instead of tossing the top of your pineapple in the trash, turn it into a tasty treasure! Once rooted (and with a little patience), pineapple is an easy-to-grow tropical plant that can reward you and your family with sweet fruit for years to come!

Tropical Beauties for Home and Garden
Tropical plants add an exotic look, unusual texture and interesting shape to the garden and home. Some can even survive mild winters in nontropical climates with a little protection. The best part is that they can be enjoyed year-round – either indoors or outside.

Light Up Your Home – With Shady Bromeliads
Looking to dress up a low-light area of your home? Try an indoor bromeliad! A great houseplant for dark rooms, these low-maintenance tropicals lighten up shady homes with their beauty and interest. Learn more about shade-tolerant bromeliads – for a bright growing idea.